THE PASSMORE ESTATE.

Evening Star, Issue 23129, 1 December 1938, Page 5

THE PASSMORE ESTATE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —May I suggest to your correspondent “Psychol” that he pay a visit to the Passmore Estate when the wind is blowing up the Kaikorai Valley and he may review his opinions, The writer was prejudiced against this area through political propaganda but m April 25, when the wind was blowing so strongly up the valley that 1 found it difficult to keep my feet, I was driven in a motor car to the Passmore Estate. To my amazement it was quite calm there, and the sun was shining brightly on it. This was accounted for by the fact that the property lies well to the sun and is sheltered by a hill before one gets to Mr Waldie’s paddock. The paddodk leased bv Mr Waldie on the estate was covered with a crop of turnips. On passing up the road past Mr Ashton’s house, which is also on the estate, I again passed a ploughed paddock in crop on ray loft. On the right of the road lies Mr Passmore’s house on level country. Past this, on the right, was a well grassed paddock with a swimming pool. It is in this paddock the Boy Scouts sometimes camp and the artillery manoeuvres. The portion covered with native bush is above this and that is the only high ground that is attractive for campers. The elections are now over. Surely, therefore, this estate should be judged on its merits without any one being called on to condemn it without seeing it. As the mailman who delivers mail in Woodhaugh also delivers it on the estate it can be visited from that quarter or from Wakari, which district is now being built on towards the estate. If another suitable playing area can be found in the suburb I will have nothing more to say. Nothing would please mo more than to see suitable playing areas provided for all forms of sport in every area. I invito any one who is doubtful about it to visit the estate with a compass and take his bearings and he will find out that what I say is true. More golf courses as well as other flaying areas are required in Dunedin, pei’sonally compliment those councillors who had vision enough to look ahead and provide for future development and not wait until the place is subdivided into building sections. I was told of a builder who offered to buy a portion of it for building purposes as, it being roaded, he would not be put to expense in subdivision. I was told of an interested land speculator who offered a section for a playing area nearer Taieri road, but on examination I found that though more centrally situated it would cost £lO,000 to level it off. The only other ground I know of suitable for a playing area, that is as level at the Passmore Estate, is near Brockville as one goes towards Fraser’s gully. The future needs of sport, recreation etc., will require the acquisition of some of that open spaced land also. Town planning should be done ahead of settlement.— I am, etc., Overland. November 30.